Chapter 172 Visiting Relatives in Qingcheng
Chapter 172 Visiting Relatives in Qingcheng
The Liao King was killed and the Liao soldiers were defeated. The fate of the Liao people was once again in the hands of the Sui army. The next step was to reintegrate the Liao tribes and elect a new Liao King. But these had nothing to do with Xiao Xia anymore, and he was ready to leave.
Before leaving, Xiao Xia paid a visit to the commander-in-chief Wei Xuan. The only thing that worried him was his subordinates. Would Wei Xuan deprive them of the rewards that originally belonged to them?
Wei Xuan had already received the emperor's oral order, so he naturally would not make things difficult for Xiao Xia. He agreed to Xiao Xia's request immediately and promised not to confiscate the rewards that the soldiers had already received, and that he would not discriminate against Xiao Xia's subordinates, and that the rewards he would distribute next would be equal to everyone.
That night, Xiao Xia conveyed the coach's promise to his generals and calmed their anxious emotions.
Before dawn the next day, Xiao Xia led twenty of his men out of the camp, went to Neijiang County, took some property, and headed for Chengdu.
Wei Xuan also quickly fulfilled his promise and returned all the money of Xiao Xia's men. The key was that the emperor's oral order worked, and Wei Xuan had to give Xiao Xia this face.
Three days later, Xiao Xia and his party arrived in Chengdu. They stayed at the Gaosheng Inn in Chengdu and deposited money at a nearby shop. Xiao Xia asked his men to rest and wait in Chengdu, and handed over his weapons to them for safekeeping. He went to Qingcheng Mountain alone with light luggage.
In addition to participating in the suppression of the Liao people's rebellion, another very important reason for coming to Bashu this time was to go to Qingcheng Mountain to see his mother. Since Xiao Xia accepted Yang Guang as his father, he must also recognize his mother who had become a nun in Qingshan City.
No matter where his soul came from, his flesh and blood was given by his mother Sui Chao. From this perspective, Xiao Chunyu is indeed his mother.
In addition, Xiao Xia also wanted to find Yuan Shoucheng. He had encountered some bottlenecks in his recent practice, and he hoped to get Yuan Shoucheng's guidance.
At dusk, Xiao Xia arrived at the foot of Mount Qingcheng. Although Emperor Yang Jian was a devout Buddhist, he also strongly supported Taoism out of consideration for the consolidation of the country. Over the past twenty years, both Buddhism and Taoism have flourished. There are forty or fifty Taoist temples in Mount Qingcheng alone.
Xiao Xia had a deep feeling when he was at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain. There was a small town at the foot of the mountain with many inns and restaurants, especially reception points of various Taoist temples. Taoists could be seen coming and going in a hurry everywhere on the streets. Many of them were Taoists who came down the mountain to buy daily necessities, as well as various pilgrims.
Xiao Xia found an inn to stay in and deposited his warhorse. He asked the waiter, "Excuse me, how do I get to Baiyun Temple?"
The waiter smiled and said, "The medicine of Baiyun Temple is very famous, but Baiyun Temple is quite remote. However, you can go to the reception point of Baiyun Temple in town and say you are a pilgrim, and they will take you there."
"Where is the reception point?"
The waiter brought Xiao Xia to the main gate and pointed to a red-roofed house a hundred steps away and said, "Sir, do you see that? That's the red-roofed house!"
"Thank you very much!"
Xiao Xia walked quickly to the red-roofed house, where there were several signs hanging. One of the signs hanging in front of the door read "Baiyun Temple Shanyuanchu", but the door was locked and no one was there.
Xiao Xia had no choice but to go back and rest for the night. At dawn the next day, he came to the Shanyuan place of Baiyun Temple again, but saw two middle-aged female Taoist nuns locking the door and leaving. Xiao Xia hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, are you the immortal nuns of Baiyun Temple?"
The two female Taoist nuns looked at Xiao Xia, nodded and said, "What do you want from Baiyun Temple, young master?"
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "I have a family member who has become a monk in Baiyun. I want to go visit him and donate some money to Baiyun Temple."
"Wulian Tianzun, I wonder how much money you plan to donate?"
"One hundred taels of silver!"
One hundred taels of silver is a large sum of money. The two Taoist nuns were immediately delighted. "We are going up the mountain. Please follow us, young master!"
The two female Taoist nuns were both skilled in martial arts. They each carried 20 kilograms of salt and walked briskly on the mountain trail. Xiao Xia offered to help them carry the salt several times, but they declined politely.
"Who are the young master's family members?"
"My surname is Xiao, and I am about the same age as the two fairies."
The two Taoist nuns shook their heads. "Young Master, we don't know your lay name. Only Abbot Yuan knows. You can ask Abbot Yuan."
"Yuan Miaogu?"
"Exactly!"
Mount Qingcheng covers a vast area with undulating peaks and lush green forests. The highest peak is called Laojun Pavilion. The mountain is shrouded in white mist and cranes fly over from time to time. It seems like a fairyland. No wonder it is called the most secluded place in the world.
Baiyun Temple is located in the back mountain. The three of them climbed up the mountain quickly without stopping to rest. They gradually arrived at Baiyun Temple in the afternoon. They could already see the red walls and black tiles of Baiyun Temple in front of them. At this time, they came to a fork in the mountain road. Two Taoist nuns smiled and said, "Young master, go up the main road. The mountain gate is above. We are going to the kitchen in the back."
"Thank you two fairies for leading the way!"
The two middle-aged Taoist nuns carried the salt away. Xiao Xia continued to walk along the main road. After walking for more than thirty steps, he reached the flat ground. This was actually the mountainside. There was a large piece of flat land, about twenty to thirty acres. A Taoist temple was built on the flat ground, which was the Baiyun Temple. Although it was a bit far from the foot of the mountain, the environment here was very good, open and quiet, surrounded by towering trees.
A female Taoist nun was sweeping the floor at the door. She was wearing a half-worn Taoist robe, had a pretty face and a serene expression. When she saw Xiao Xia, she was stunned. Xiao Xia passed by her and she felt a very familiar feeling in her heart.
He stopped and stared at the nun, who suddenly burst into tears, "Abao, don't you recognize your mother?"
Xiao Xia's heart suddenly twitched, and a strong emotion surged from his heart. His nose was sore and his eyes were red. He took a step forward, knelt on his knees and said, "Mom!"
When her son arrived after five years' absence, Xiao Chunyu's originally calm heart lost control. She hugged her son and burst into tears.
Xiao Xia's biological mother in his previous life died of illness when he was in the third grade of elementary school. Later, his father found a stepmother, who was rather cold to him. Although she did not abuse him, she did not have any maternal love at all. Soon the stepmother gave birth to a son, and all the love of his father and stepmother was given to the younger son.
Xiao Xia grew up in loneliness and often missed her deceased mother.
At this moment, he finally felt the long-lost maternal love. He thought of his deceased mother, as if she had also returned to the Sui Dynasty with him, and tears flowed down his face.
More than a dozen Taoist nuns walked out of the Taoist temple, led by an old Taoist nun with white hair and a youthful face. She asked softly, "Chun Chengzi, is A-Bao here?"
Xiao Chunyu quickly pulled Xiao Xia forward and said, "Abao, this is my mother's master. I have worshipped her as my master since I was very young. You can call her Grandmaster!"
Xiao Xia hurriedly bowed, "Xiao Xia greets the Grandmaster!"
Yuan Miaogu smiled and said, "When I met you, you were only six years old. Now you have grown so tall and strong. Come in and talk!"
Xiao Xia followed the others into the Taoist temple. Under his mother's guidance, he bowed to the Three Pure Ones. Xiao Xia took out an envelope and placed it on the table. He said to Yuan Miaogu, "This is the three thousand taels of silver I offer to the Three Pure Ones. Please accept it, Grandmaster!"
Yuan Miaogu smiled and said, "Wulian Tianzun, Abao is really a timely help! Now we have money to repair the dining hall and dormitory."
"Ah! If it's not enough, I'll donate another 2,000 strings of cash."
Yuan Miaogu smiled and said, "That's enough! That's enough! Too much money is not good for cultivation. In fact, I can't even use the three thousand strings of cash. The rest should be used for daily expenses!"
"Master, I'll take him down."
"Go! I won't disturb you and your son's reunion."
Xiao Chunyu said to Xiao Xia: "Abao, follow me!"
Xiao Xia followed her mother to a separate courtyard on the side. The air here was filled with a strong smell of medicine. There was a sign at the entrance of the courtyard that read "Pharmacy Three".
Xiao Chunyu smiled and introduced to his son: "There are four pharmacies in Baiyun Temple. Pharmacy No. 3 is where mother practices. She prepares pills and sells them at the foot of the mountain. It has always been an important source of income for Baiyun Temple."
"Mom, have I been to Baiyun Temple before?"
Xiao Chunyu also knew that her son had lost his memory, but she didn't care. It didn't matter if he didn't remember those bad past events.
She smiled and nodded, "Of course you have been here, come in and have a drink of water!"
Xiao Xia walked into the yard, and a little Taoist nun with beautiful features appeared in front of Xiao Xia. She tilted her head and smiled, "Brother Big Monkey, do you still recognize me?"
Familiar voice, familiar smiling face, Xiao Xia felt warm in her heart, and couldn't help laughing, "Fairy sister, long time no see!"
(End of this chapter)